Those arms closed around Fiona’s daughter.
And they closed tight.
They held onto each other while the muted sounds of Jason’s shouts drifted toward them.
Finally, Sally’s head tilted back.
“Can I sleep with you?” she asked in a timid, sad voice that tore at her mother’s ghostly heart.
“Of course, sweetheart,” Isabella answered softly.
And, even though Fiona knew Sally had to weigh a ton, Isabella picked her up and carried her to bed.
Fiona floated next to the bed as Isabella tucked Sally’s back to her front, cuddling her close, cradled in her arms and she started singing Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” softly into the back of Sally’s hair.
Sally fell asleep.
Isabella curled her neck so her face was in the top of Sally’s hair.
Then Isabella fell asleep.
And Fiona decided that yes, she was back to hating Isabella.
Because now, Fiona was jealous of Isabella Austin Evangahalala.
And Fiona had a lot more to be jealous of.
* * * * *
Prentice
Prentice was surprised to go back to his room and see his bed empty.
He thought after that episode with Jason (likely made worse by Isabella foolishly, and unkindly, talking about his dead mother), Sally would have woken and climbed in his bed.
In case she was awake and upset in her own bed, Prentice went to her room. She wasn’t there either.
He felt fear slice through him and he moved out of her room, checked the playroom and then went swiftly down the stairs.
She wasn’t on the couch in the great room or the one in the television room. He looked in his study and then stood in the hall wondering where the hell his daughter was.
Then, slowly, his head turned to look down the hall.
Sally would go there. No doubt about it.
The door to the guest suite was open but Sally wasn’t on the couch.
The door to the bedroom of the suite was open as well and Prentice stood in it seeing Sally’s dark hair and Isabella’s blonde against the pillows.
He walked to the side of the bed and looked down at them in a room bathed in moonlight.
His daughter was nestled snug in the curve of Isabella’s body, her arms tight around the girl. Isabella’s hair was blended with Sally’s, dark and light. The sheet was down at Isabella’s waist and he could see she had some lacy nightgown on.
Prentice’s first demented thought was to climb in bed with them.
He had no idea where that thought came from and he cast it aside instantly.
His second thought was to rip his daughter from that bitch’s arms and take her far away.